Buckle



May 31, 1927. 1,630,758

H. M. PFALTZG RAFF BUCKLE Filed Aug. s. 1924 2 sheets-snee: 2

@11 @Mg-165W Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES HATTIE MAY PFALTZGRAFF, F LAKEWOOD, CHIC.

BUCKLE.

Application filed August 5, 1924. Serial No. 730,145.

This invention relates to buckles and particularly to those buckleswhich are adapted for use in holding two or more portions of strapstogether, such as are employed rmore particularly in connection withsurgical appliances, :including abdominal supporters, surgical corsetsand the like, and which also may be used in connection with gai-ters,Suspenders and the like.

In the buckles now used in the construc tion of surgical appliances,including abdominal supporters, surgical corsets and the like, and inconnection with Suspenders, garters and the like, great ditliculty ismet l5 by the wearer for the reason that the buckles do not holdsecurely, permitting slipping; they also become unfastened entirely andin most instances are uncomfortable to the wearer because of theirlength or because 520 they materially increase the thickness of thearticles of which they form a part.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a buckle forsuch articles as are above mentioned which will (l) hold the parts ofthe straps securely, (2) prevent unfastening of theholding means and (3)cause a minimum increase in thickness of the supporting means at thebuckle point.

Other and further objects will be apparent from a reading of thecomplete specification and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustratedpreferred embodiments of my invention.

Fig. l is a plan view of one form of my invention having a single claspmember.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. cross section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is an elevational view of my invention as applied to a garter,the lower garter connection being illustrated in dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is aV cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing two continuous strapsbeing held in place.

Figs. 'l' and S are respectively front and cross sectional views of myinvention show- 50 ing a modiiied use.

Fig. 9 is a front view of a` modified form.

Figs. l0 and 11 are cross sectional views on the lines 10-10 and 11-11,respectively, of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a modilied form of my invention showing two clasp members.

also to be described. back portion 20 are the sides 9.3, 24: which Fig.13 is a cross sectional view on the line 13-13 of Fig. l2.

Similar reference characters refer to the -same parts in the severalviews of the drawing.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3.

The main body of the buckle comprises a back portion 2() havingpreferably two rectangular openings 21, 22, the former to cooperate withthe fastening clamp, to be described, and the latter to be used as aloop, At the sides of the secure the front and back together. The sidesare provided with pivoting bearing means 25, 26, respectively, to whichare pivoted the clasp member 27. The pivoting bearings are formed byfolding the portion of the front member adjacent the middle Aof theside, upwardly and over to form va cylindrical bearing.

Secured to the side portion 24 is a front youter end with snap members31 which engage the outer edge of the front member 28 which latter ispreferably rolled over as shown at 3Q in Fig. 3. Below the pivots of,and integral with, the clasp member, is the strap gripping or engagingmember 33. The lower edge of the strap engaging member 33 is locatedsubstantially below the axis of the pivots 25, 26 and consequently whenthe snap members 31 are engaged with the rolled over portions 32 of thetop member 28, there will be no tendency of the parts to become loosenedto release the straps which the buckle is intended to secure.

It is also to be noted that the strap engaging member presses the strapor straps between two edges 211v and 2lb of the open ing 21. The crosssections of the parts of the buckle are substantially all rectangularand consequently the holding edges are right angular. This feature isvery important as the pressure from the edge oit' the engag ing member33 is counteracted by the pressure from the two edges 2la and 2lb whichMbai" at the bottoinoi' the haelt member.

will lioldtlie straps securely wand prevent slipping but Without cuttingaction.

1n Figsnl and 5, I have illustrated one applicatioii of my invention toagarter. A strap oi webbing or other suitable material is illustrated atett). This strap passes inbetween the upper portion ot the back member20 and the clasp member 27. The strap 40 passes tlirouglrtlie openings21, 22, forming` a loop around the'solid portion 41 between the openings21 and 22'.` Adjacentthe sides of theiront portion and outwardoil thelugs Li2 are attached hooks 43 of stockii'ig attaching means. .y

At the outer end oi the clasp member 27 is an opening dei to Whichanother stocking attaching means 113 is secured. The lugs 12 prevent thestocking attaching means from coming under the clasp 27 and preventingits proper closing. It is obvious that the `member a being held'securelyagainst the edges 21, 21b oi' the opening 21 and the front'strap beingheldby the edge of the strap engaging member y In,` Figs. 7 and 8 I havesliovvn an arrangement With the loop ofthe strap 40 similar i, to Figs.aand` 5 and having an additional sliding loop` extending overtlie lowerThe ends of this `loop may be attached to garter fasteners, suspenderfasteners or to any other `desired `fastening, means. The operation ofthe clasp 27 istlie same 'as in FigsQeand 5. In Figs. 9, 10l and 11 Ihaveillustrated a` modified form of clasp slieiving a back member havingan opening 121; The rounded Vretaining portion 132 holds the snapmembers 131 in place. The snap members 131 are similar in constructionto the parts 31 of Fig. 1 and form part of the clasp 127 `in a mannersimilar to the manner in which the clasp 27 and its snap members `B1 areconstructed. It will be noted that thisforni occupies much less spacethan the forni previously described.

In Figs. 12 and 13, I have shown a` form ofmy invention wherein a bacltmember 220 is `provided with tivo openings 221, 222.

Tvvo clasp members 227 are pivote'd on the front member as shown and inposition toforce the strap or straps against theedges ofthe respectiveopenings` 221, 222. The other corresponding parts are similar to similar parts in the previously described iorms and will not again berepeated.

In my structures, the placing of the strap gripping or engaging means,as at 33, 133

` and 233, substantiallybelow the respective pivot points, delivers a`iiiaiiiinum amount of pressure without exerting a strain upon anyfastening ineens oi the clamping meniber, thus matting it easy to holdthe clamp ing member.' The pressure oit the strap engaging member beinrexerted between the tivo angularv edges or' the opening, causes agripping action 'with these edges. Th features with the snap members.tor hol ,i ing the claspn'ieinber in place, render `the liold ingaction certain i p It will be clear from the above description,

taken inconnection ivitlithe drawings, that I have provided a huclrlo`which will hold the straps securely, will have no tendeiicy to becomeloose and at the sainetime "will have a minimum thickness andnoui'incceesary projecting portions andivill be cheap of manufacture.

"lVhile have illlistraled and deseriliiel preferred embodiments ot' myinvention "I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myseli" tothe exact showing and" that modifications and changes may be madeWithout departing from the spirit of my invention and Within the scopeot`the appended claims. i

Having described `my invention what I claim is:-`- i 1. i1 buckle havingback, iront and side portions, the front and bac-lt` portions beingrigid relative to the side portions to iurn'r a i'rameciosed atthe'eornfers on the front, sides and rear but openat the top and"hottom, tiieback portion being provided with `an opening extendingthereacross, a, `clasp meinberunounted in place` opposite the baclt tillportion, spaced "therefrom `and intermediate the upper andloivereittremities ot the front portion and `in position to have itstongue opposite the opening to force the strap" into engagement with theopposite edgesof the opening when the clasp member is placed inoperative position and means for holding the clasp in operativeposition.

2. A buckle having back, front and side portions, the front and backportions being rigid relative to the side portions to torni a `traineclosed at the corners on the front,

sides and rear but iopen at top and bottom, the back portion beingprovided with `an opening extending thereacross, a pivotetl vclaspmember mounted in place opposite the back portion, spaced therefrom andinterino diate the upper and lower extremities oi the front portion andin position tri-bave `its tongue opposite the opening to iorce the strapinto engagement with the opposite edges of the opening in the backportion when the clasp member is swung onu its pivot into operativeposition and means ttor securing the outer end of the clasp tohold thesame in operative position.

A buckle having back, 'front` and side closed trame at the corners inthe tront,'

sides and rear, but open at the top and bottoni, a pivoted clasp membermounted in place opposite the back portion, spaced therefrom andintermediate the upper and lower extremities otl the front portion andhaving a strap engaging portion, the back having an opening opposite thestrap engaging portion of the clasp and in position to have the strappressed against its opposite sides by the strap engaging portion, theback being provided with an additional opening' in position to pass astrap loop through both openings whereby the strap Vengaging portion maypress one side ot the loop against one side ot the opening opposite thesame and both parts of the loop against the other side.

Ll. A buckle having back, front and side portions, the front and backport-ions being rigid relative to the side portions to form a traineclosed at the corners on the front, sides and rear but open at the ends,the back portion being provided with an opening extending thereacrossandhaving oppo-r site angular edges, a clasp member mounted in placeopposite the back portion, spaced therefrom and intermediate the upperand lower extremities ot' the front portion and having astrap engagingportion opposite the opening in the back portion and in position toforce the strap into engagement with the angular edges ot' two oppositesides ot the opening and snap means for holding the clasp member inoperative position. i

A buckle having a back member and a front member and side members, theback, front and side members being rigid With each other to form aiframe open at its endsbut closed at the corners of its front, rear andsides, a pivoted clasp member having an en-v gaging portion for securinga strap within the frame, means at each side ot' the tront member forattachment ot an auxiliary strap portion and means for holding the twoauxiliary strap portions in spaced relation When attached.

6. A buckle having front, back and side members, the back, liront andside members being rigid Wit-h each other to form a ranie open at itsends but closed at the corners of its trent, rear and sides, a pivotedclasp member` having an engaging portion for securing a strap Within theframe, means at each side of the trent member and inthe clasp member forattachment oft three auiril` iary strap portions and means for holdingthe three auxiliary strap portions in spaced relation when attached.

In testimony Whereotl I hereunto aiiiX my signature.

HATTIE MAY PFALTZGRAFF.

CERTIFICATE 0F CRREGTN.

Patent No. i,63ii,758. Granted May 3l, 1927, to`

HATTIE MAY PFALTZGRAFF Ii is hereby certified that error nppers in iieprinted speeifieatien 0f the above numbered patent requiring correctionas ioilows: Page 2, lines 127 to 129, claim 2, strike ont the worde "andmeans for securing the outer end of the eiasp to hold the same inoperative pesition"; and that the said Letters Patent should be readWiin hese correeons therein that the same may conform to the record oithe ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this Ziet day ni june, A. D. 1927.

M. J MOORE.

Seal. Aciing Commissioner of Patents.

